Forbidden ~ after unlocked

Chapter 38 - Keefe

As Keefe's mind slowly faded back into the present, it felt like he could have lived a million lifetimes and still never be more shocked than he was right now.

He realized he was still clutching the photo of Eleanor in his hand, and uncurled his fist to see it was folded and creased. In frustration, he threw the crumpled picture across the room, running anxious hands through his hair.

"What the hell did I just watch?" Keefe mumbled to himself, so confused and overwhelmed he wasn't even sure what to think.

He sat there for several minutes, mind racing, replaying what he'd seen over and over. The more he watched, the angrier he became. He'd finally, finally, recovered the memory that had been bugging him for weeks. 

But it brought more questions than answers.

From what it looked like, Kalea was a part of the Neverseen. Even though it seemed she might not want to be? He wasn't sure. His mom and Vespera were both competing for information about stellarlune, but had gone about it in different ways. When Keefe delivered the letter, Vespera was talking to Kalea at the same time.

Keefe swore out loud, kicking the file cabinet. Anger was starting to run wild through his veins. He'd finally found people he thought he could trust, only to discover they were lying to him the whole time.

Not just people, Keefe thought, my family. They're all against me.

Keefe stood up, pacing rapidly across the file room. What he needed was a plan. He couldn't just stay here, but he didn't know the way out. Clearly, Kalea was playing him, but for what? Why did she need him on her side?

The only reason that made sense was that somehow she knew about his new ability.

Keefe's breathing became quicker, a sudden rush of anxiety and rage putting him on the edge of a breakdown. He took a deep breath. The key here was to try and stay calm.

At that very moment, Keefe heard the door open and immediately felt another spike of fear impale him. He whipped around, ready to face whoever it was. Evren.

She was holding several types of guns in her arms, and the second the door closed behind her, she dropped them all onto the floor.

Keefe stared, backing up a few steps. He had no idea if he could trust her. Did she know about Kalea? Was she with the Nevrseen?

Evren stretched her arms as the guns clattered to a heap on the floor. "Do you know how hard it is to carry all of these weapons through a Neverseen base? Nevermind the fact that I nearly got lost about ten times, but why are all the paths on a hill? It was not easy to be discreet." She leaned back against the wall, taking a breather. Then her eyes narrowed on him. "Why are you so quiet?"

Keefe cleared his throat. "What?"

"You look like you've seen a ghost. All pale, scared, sweaty..." she gestured towards his face with a wave of her arm. "The whole ordeal."

"I'm fine. Just... anxious to get out of here."

"You and me both."

Keefe's mind was running a marathon. What was he supposed to do when Kalea showed up? Act like everything was normal? Ask for an explanation of what he'd seen?

Before he could think of an answer, the door opened again. He and Evren turned to look at the same time, and his panic only grew when he saw it was Kalea herself.

She let the hood from her Neverseen cloak fall, revealing her bright red hair along with ice blue eyes like his own.

Instinctively Keefe backed up even more, bumping into the desk and sending things toppling off it.